What do you fear?

[Netzach]

Hm.

People who say they're not afraid of anything have never stood on the roof of a ten story building looking down at an airbag, which looks about the size of a postage stamp, as they prepare to jump off, knowing that if they miss the bulls eye they will splat on the cement.

There is much that scares me. I can channel and use my fear but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And I'd say I do more scary shit than the average Jane.

I have to say that I have more faith in a "everything scares me, but what am I supposed to do, cry and lie down and die?" attitude than "nothing scares me."

 

[graceanne]

I'm a very fearful person. I am not going to announce the things that really scare me to a public forum, any more than I'd give my address.

 

[DVS]

I don't fear a damn thing. Bring it, bitch!

Well, I hate tax time, but I don't fear it. And I hate the fact that we all die, but I don't fear it. I hate that I don't have a lot of money and sometimes I don't have enough money, but I don't fear it.

Life really sucks sometimes, but I don't fear it. Sure, it's no fun being poor, and no fun being alone, and no fun when both of those things hit when you're getting old, but I'm alive and feeling fine.

I don't fear a damn thing.






Well, except maybe pain in my teeth. That's no fun.

 

[nh23]

I'm a very fearful person. I am not going to announce the things that really scare me to a public forum, any more than I'd give my address.

LOL I mentioned once that listing your fears on a board full of sadists probably wasn't a good idea.

 

[unregistered]

 

[nh23]

Like the other moms who've posted, I fear dying and not being able to raise my kids. Abandoning them...

Today marks 18 years since I lost my Mom to cancer. I'm older now than my Mom ever was. I fear doing the same to my little girls.

*big hugs*

 

[Homburg]

Hm.

People who say they're not afraid of anything have never stood on the roof of a ten story building looking down at an airbag, which looks about the size of a postage stamp, as they prepare to jump off, knowing that if they miss the bulls eye they will splat on the cement.

There is much that scares me. I can channel and use my fear but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And I'd say I do more scary shit than the average Jane.

Perhaps it is because I draw a line between "Fuck, this is SCARY," and actual fear. To me, fear is what keeps you up at night. Fear initiates avoidant behaviour. Fear controls you. "Fuck, this is SCARY," is just common sense screaming at you to not jump off the fucking building.

That said, heights don't scare me. I've always had the "I wanna jump" response. I remember being maybe seven or eight years old and visiting Grandfather Mountain in NC (one of my favourite places in the whole world). They have (or had) launches for hang-gliding. I walked right up to the edge, looked down, and felt the weirdest sensation in my legs like something lifting me up. I wanted to hop right off, right then.

As a scout, I got to do some basic jump training on the Army's parachute training facility in Ft Bragg. This was way back in the day when the Army would do cool stuff like that. It started with rappelling to test height sensitivity I guess. I loved it. Standing at the edge I got that wanna-jump feeling, and "Fuck, this is SCARY" at the same time. Then we moved to the jump tower, and I was all like "Can I jump now?" Unfortunately, I was too big for the kiddy harness and too small for the small adult harness. So the jump resulted in a violent reorganisation of the contents of my pants. I enjoyed the jump, but not so much the stopping.

There are a lot of things in this world that are SCARY. Very few things actually cause me to feel fear.

 

[graceanne]

LOL I mentioned once that listing your fears on a board full of sadists probably wasn't a good idea.

Pretty much. Every now and then a thread like this shows up, and I always say the same thing, about not broadcasting my deepest fears on a public board. But some people find it cathartic. *shrugs*

Personally, all I can think of is all the lurkers who hang around these boards. You never know who's watching.

Like the other moms who've posted, I fear dying and not being able to raise my kids. Abandoning them...

Today marks 18 years since I lost my Mom to cancer. I'm older now than my Mom ever was. I fear doing the same to my little girls.

*great big hugs*

 

[myinnerslut]

S&M pfffttt that shit's nothing. Life is what kicks your ass.

yes. QFT

 

[Keroin]

Perhaps it is because I draw a line between "Fuck, this is SCARY," and actual fear. To me, fear is what keeps you up at night. Fear initiates avoidant behaviour. Fear controls you. "Fuck, this is SCARY," is just common sense screaming at you to not jump off the fucking building.

That said, heights don't scare me. I've always had the "I wanna jump" response. I remember being maybe seven or eight years old and visiting Grandfather Mountain in NC (one of my favourite places in the whole world). They have (or had) launches for hang-gliding. I walked right up to the edge, looked down, and felt the weirdest sensation in my legs like something lifting me up. I wanted to hop right off, right then.

As a scout, I got to do some basic jump training on the Army's parachute training facility in Ft Bragg. This was way back in the day when the Army would do cool stuff like that. It started with rappelling to test height sensitivity I guess. I loved it. Standing at the edge I got that wanna-jump feeling, and "Fuck, this is SCARY" at the same time. Then we moved to the jump tower, and I was all like "Can I jump now?" Unfortunately, I was too big for the kiddy harness and too small for the small adult harness. So the jump resulted in a violent reorganisation of the contents of my pants. I enjoyed the jump, but not so much the stopping.

There are a lot of things in this world that are SCARY. Very few things actually cause me to feel fear.

See H, I don't put you in the "nothing scares me" group. We've discussed fear and your slightly abnormal reaction to it and I know you aren't afraid to say that "X" scares you even though it doesn't give you the racing heart and sweaty palms most others would have.

Fear is, it exists in all of us. We may not feel it when we "think" about it but in the moment it will appear. Half the time, when people say things don't scare them, it's just a lack of knowledge, of understanding.

For example, I took a group of people, (tourists), out snorkeling, on the boat, about a year ago. They were super keen to go outside the reef but I knew from experience it was far too rough out, I also knew that, to them, standing on shore, it didn't look rough - distance, on the water, is deceptive.

Ordinarily I would have just put my foot down but they were being so fucking arrogant about it and wouldn't listen to me that I thought I'd give them a little scare. To get outside the reef, you have to exit through a very narrow channel that gets really snotty in bad weather, with huge fucking haystacks that can swamp a boat in two seconds. I cruised slowly up the channel, watching their eyes get bigger and their smiles drop as they got closer to the big, scary waves. "Maybe we should turn around?" one of them said, nervously.

Now, I knew I was going to turn around but I wasn't going to let them know that, so I kept moving forward. "Oh no, it's fine," I yelled, with a smirk.

Eventually they were all yelling to turn around...we didn't even make it half way up the channel. Oh but they weren't scared, not one little bit.

Whatever.

I'm not afraid of the ocean but I do respect it. However, I've been caught in a white squall...and I was fucking terrified. Kept my head, made it through, but had to down about a dozen martinis when I was back on land.

No fear? Of anything? Yeah, sorry, I call bullshit. Not on you, H, but you know what I mean?

 

[WriterDom]

I fear that Keroin won't love us anymore when she gets back to the real world. And I fear my hard drive will crash and I don't have her naked picture saved to a disk. I do have a few naked kitten pictures Sir W might take in trade.

 

[Cattypuss]

Moths and buterflies. I'd rather confront a hungry lioness head-on than be within 10 feet of a moth or a butterfly.

 

[Keroin]

I fear that Keroin won't love us anymore when she gets back to the real world.

As CM would say...

Piffle.

There may be radio silence while I'm walkabout and/or getting ravished by my favourite penguin, but the love won't go away.

 

[Homburg]

See H, I don't put you in the "nothing scares me" group. We've discussed fear and your slightly abnormal reaction to it and I know you aren't afraid to say that "X" scares you even though it doesn't give you the racing heart and sweaty palms most others would have.

*nod* I didn't think so. I just wanted to use that as an opportunity to clarify terminology.

Fear is, it exists in all of us. We may not feel it when we "think" about it but in the moment it will appear. Half the time, when people say things don't scare them, it's just a lack of knowledge, of understanding.

Very much so. I've had many an acquaintance talk big and bad about physical confrontation. "Man, I would kick his ass!" Yeah right, first, say that to his face. Second, actually get into it with him.

As much as I mention my "I wanna jump" response, I don't extend it to skydiving. I may have that urge on a building, but I might freeze if I hit that door. Does it stop me from trying skydiving? No, course not. The expense does, ouch.

For example, I took a group of people, (tourists), out snorkeling, on the boat, about a year ago. They were super keen to go outside the reef but I knew from experience it was far too rough out, I also knew that, to them, standing on shore, it didn't look rough - distance, on the water, is deceptive.

Ordinarily I would have just put my foot down but they were being so fucking arrogant about it and wouldn't listen to me that I thought I'd give them a little scare. To get outside the reef, you have to exit through a very narrow channel that gets really snotty in bad weather, with huge fucking haystacks that can swamp a boat in two seconds. I cruised slowly up the channel, watching their eyes get bigger and their smiles drop as they got closer to the big, scary waves. "Maybe we should turn around?" one of them said, nervously.

Now, I knew I was going to turn around but I wasn't going to let them know that, so I kept moving forward. "Oh no, it's fine," I yelled, with a smirk.

Eventually they were all yelling to turn around...we didn't even make it half way up the channel. Oh but they weren't scared, not one little bit.

Whatever.

I'd be juuuuust fine in the boat. Even more fine on the shore.

I'm not afraid of the ocean but I do respect it. However, I've been caught in a white squall...and I was fucking terrified. Kept my head, made it through, but had to down about a dozen martinis when I was back on land.

I've always considered myself afraid of really deep, dark water. It has figured prominently in more than one nightmare. Many more than one, actually. While I've not been out on truly deep stuff, I did cross the English Channel on a ferry (same one tipped over a little while later). I was totally cool. It was eerie, as there were some frightening similarities to one particular dream whose vivid imagery had haunted me for years, but I wasn't afraid. I still don't really understand my relationship with the ocean in that sense.

To an extent, I want to go scuba/snorkel to finally stuff that itch/fear.

No fear? Of anything? Yeah, sorry, I call bullshit. Not on you, H, but you know what I mean?

*nod* I do.

As an aside, ladders give me the jibblies. I'm only a little nervous going up, but I HATE getting on the ladder when I'm getting off the roof. It is an official "Fuck, this is SCARY" thing for me.

 

[BiaTcHiNFiRe]

People who say they're not afraid of anything have never stood on the roof of a ten story building looking down at an airbag, which looks about the size of a postage stamp, as they prepare to jump off, knowing that if they miss the bulls eye they will splat on the cement.

No fear? Of anything? Yeah, sorry, I call bullshit. Not on you, H, but you know what I mean?

I think you talking about mine "I fear nuthing" so I will comment your post.

Firstly, I was talking about BDSM things, like canes, whipes, hairbrushes etc, simply because thats how I understood WD's question. He asked and then spoke about canes, so I thought he meant what kind of pain we fear due to BDSM! And since I fear no pain I said nothing. I prolly get it wrong, sorry.

 

[Keroin]

Very much so. I've had many an acquaintance talk big and bad about physical confrontation. "Man, I would kick his ass!" Yeah right, first, say that to his face. Second, actually get into it with him.

As much as I mention my "I wanna jump" response, I don't extend it to skydiving. I may have that urge on a building, but I might freeze if I hit that door. Does it stop me from trying skydiving? No, course not. The expense does, ouch.

Believe or not, I have never jumped out of a plane. Several of my friends are pros and I've made plans to do a tandem on several occasions. Every single time, something came up - mostly work - and I had to cancel. It's on the "must do" list, though. Apparently the sex after going terminal is off the farcking charts!

I've always considered myself afraid of really deep, dark water. It has figured prominently in more than one nightmare. Many more than one, actually. While I've not been out on truly deep stuff, I did cross the English Channel on a ferry (same one tipped over a little while later). I was totally cool. It was eerie, as there were some frightening similarities to one particular dream whose vivid imagery had haunted me for years, but I wasn't afraid. I still don't really understand my relationship with the ocean in that sense.

To an extent, I want to go scuba/snorkel to finally stuff that itch/fear.

Seriously, diving is the closest thing to flying you will ever experience. It's liberating! But, location is the big thing. If you're at all uncomfortable in water, it's best to do your open water in some place like the Florida Keys were the water is clear and there's lots of cool shit to look at. (Cool shit is distracting).

As an aside, ladders give me the jibblies. I'm only a little nervous going up, but I HATE getting on the ladder when I'm getting off the roof. It is an official "Fuck, this is SCARY" thing for me.

Mmm, yeah, had a few unpleasant ladder experiences myself.

I think you talking about mine "I fear nuthing" so I will comment your post.

Firstly, I was talking about BDSM things, like canes, whipes, hairbrushes etc, simply because thats how I understood WD's question. He asked and then spoke about canes, so I thought he meant what kind of pain we fear due to BDSM! And since I fear no pain I said nothing. I prolly get it wrong, sorry.

As for your "I call bullshit", you can be peaceful, I am probably the most fearful person you can imagine!

*snipped for space considerations*

And I am afraid of myself. With years I figured out I am my worst enemy!

I didn't realize the thread was only about BDSM, people seemed to be talking about all kinds of fear. However...

You are not the only person to express the "I'm not scared of nuthin'" sentiment, here or in real life. I've heard it too often and it bothers me - kind of a pet peeve. So, please don't think I was singling you out .

Many of my friends, acquaintances and former co-workers are people that work and play in extreme environments. These are some of the toughest people out there and they feel fear. Fear is normal. Fear is healthy. Fear can serve a purpose. It can also be toxic and hold people back from having happy lives and enriching life experiences. As you said, people can be their own worst enemies when it comes to fear.

I cherish my fear, as an instinct, it has saved my ass more than once.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

 

[BiaTcHiNFiRe]

Believe or not, I have never jumped out of a plane. Several of my friends are pros and I've made plans to do a tandem on several occasions. Every single time, something came up - mostly work - and I had to cancel. It's on the "must do" list, though. Apparently the sex after going terminal is off the farcking charts!



Seriously, diving is the closest thing to flying you will ever experience. It's liberating! But, location is the big thing. If you're at all uncomfortable in water, it's best to do your open water in some place like the Florida Keys were the water is clear and there's lots of cool shit to look at. (Cool shit is distracting).



Mmm, yeah, had a few unpleasant ladder experiences myself.



I didn't realize the thread was only about BDSM, people seemed to be talking about all kinds of fear. However...

You are not the only person to express the "I'm not scared of nuthin'" sentiment, here or in real life. I've heard it too often and it bothers me - kind of a pet peeve. So, please don't think I was singling you out .

Many of my friends, acquaintances and former co-workers are people that work and play in extreme environments. These are some of the toughest people out there and they feel fear. Fear is normal. Fear is healthy. Fear can serve a purpose. It can also be toxic and hold people back from having happy lives and enriching life experiences. As you said, people can be their own worst enemies when it comes to fear.

I cherish my fear, as an instinct, it has saved my ass more than once.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

I am sorry as well, really not my day today..

 

[Netzach]

As an aside, ladders give me the jibblies. I'm only a little nervous going up, but I HATE getting on the ladder when I'm getting off the roof. It is an official "Fuck, this is SCARY" thing for me.

I still hate them. I just put myself into the "don't think about it" mindset, until I have to go reaching for track lighting at the "this can cause injury or death" level.

 

[graceanne]

I still hate them. I just put myself into the "don't think about it" mindset, until I have to go reaching for track lighting at the "this can cause injury or death" level.

I won't do ladders. But that ties into the 'afraid of heights' thing. That, and I'm one of the worlds most clumsy people. LOL I was doing lunges the other day and I nearly fell over doing lunges! I'm such a klutz, and klutziness and ladders DO NOT MIX.

 

[Sayyid]

Heights, dogs, snakes, eyes, dentists, Darkseid, Galactus, the Green Lantern Corps, Thom Yorke, pina coladas, being caught in the rain, diabetes, diabeetus, Wilford Brimley, Steve Guttenberg and, if I were on her bad side, Veronica Mars.

Aside from his lazy eye, what exactly is there to fear about him? Granted he seems like a rather odd fellow, but then so are most artists.

 

[Homburg]

Believe or not, I have never jumped out of a plane. Several of my friends are pros and I've made plans to do a tandem on several occasions. Every single time, something came up - mostly work - and I had to cancel. It's on the "must do" list, though. Apparently the sex after going terminal is off the farcking charts!

I've come close a couple of times. For me, it has usually been a matter of time and money.It's not something high on my list of things I'm willing to save money for, so it doesn't get prioritised.

Seriously, diving is the closest thing to flying you will ever experience. It's liberating! But, location is the big thing. If you're at all uncomfortable in water, it's best to do your open water in some place like the Florida Keys were the water is clear and there's lots of cool shit to look at. (Cool shit is distracting).

That would be the sort of place I'd want to do it in. It would be pretty useless around here. The water is too murky.

I didn't realize the thread was only about BDSM, people seemed to be talking about all kinds of fear. However...

I think it was intended to be BDSM, but people broadened it. The perspective is useful.

----

I still hate them. I just put myself into the "don't think about it" mindset, until I have to go reaching for track lighting at the "this can cause injury or death" level.

I'm okay on ladders indoors. I'm almost totally okay on standalone ladders like you use to change light fixtures. It's when I have to lean the ladder against something and dismount that the rules changed. I'm even okay when the ladder is against a one-story eave. I have a three story townhouse though. I am not okay with the ladder in that situation, and I've had to be up on the roof more than once.

Roofing repairs are the only thing I will consider paying for without a whole lot of hemming and hawing. Even then, I've done it a number of times since we came here. Cheap > scary.

 

[MisterSir]

Aside from his lazy eye, what exactly is there to fear about him? Granted he seems like a rather odd fellow, but then so are most artists.

Odd and rather creepy, and I once had a nightmare where he was stalking me in real serial killer style. If I remember right, I'd been in hospital not long before and woken up a couple of times in the night, and hospital wards at night are quite unnerving, and in the dream he was walking through with a bloody scalpel and - this part I remember vividly - I could hear "Creep" being played somewhere. Even now, I can't hear anything by Radiohead without remembering that.

 

[Cattypuss]

I was in a bar in London a few years back (must have been 1999, thinking about it) with some girlfriends and all of Radiohead came in and hit on us. I agree about Thom Yorke... thankfully it was Jonny Greenwood who took a liking to me. It might have been a sexy or exciting experience if they hadn't all been wearing matching woolly jumpers. It might even have led to something lol.

 

[Sayyid]

I'm straight and I'd think that was awesome.

 

[Cattypuss]

No - I must admit that I have a thing for dark, long hair, which JG had at the time, and I also have a thing for guitarists, and he told me he had hash in his hotel room and I have always loved hash..... but I was monogamously, deeply in love at the time (it was just a bar near the office - we girls from the office had just gone in for a quick drink straight after work) and seriously, Thom Yorke's presence - and the matching woolly jumpers - were a turn-off.